The President of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs Asmau Idris, has called for concerted efforts to check drug abuse and cultism among youths in the society.

Idris, who is also the Wife of the Inspector-General of Police, made the call while addressing a mammoth crowd in Enugu after a five-kilometre walk on “Campaign Against Drug Abuse and Cultism Among Youths in Enugu State”.

The walk featured distribution of leaflets containing messages against drug abuse and cultism as well as banners with various inscriptions against drug abuse and cultism among youths.

The messages in the leaflets and banners read: “Drug Abuse and Cultism Lead to Death’’; “Stop Your Child from Bad Companies”; “Shun all Forms of Hard Drug Smoking or Inhalation” and “Drug-Free Life Promotes Healthy Living”.

Idris noted that as a mother she felt concern on a large number of youths taking to drug abuse and cultism in the society; adding that “the earlier we start to act and redeem our children from these vices the better for the society”.

“We have observed all these years that drug abuse is the underlining and underpinning factor for most crimes especially violent crimes in the society.

“So, we are saying no to that; and encouraging every other mother and right thinking Nigerians to join hands with POWA to rid our streets of drugs, cultists and gangsters,” she said.

The POWA boss also urged religious leaders, opinion leaders and parents not to keep quiet but “keep talking to youths already displaying signs of deviance and keeping bad companies”.

Idris also gave financial empowerment package to 30 police wives for them to support their petty businesses after observing what the women had displayed as what they learnt from the POWA Skill Acquisition Centre in the state.

During his lecture, Dr Anthony Ohanyere, Enugu State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that families should do more to ensure sound moral upbringing of children.

Ohanyere, whose lecture was titled, “Drug Abuse and its Negative Effect on the Youths”, said that parents must ensure that they are both emotionally and physically close to their children to know the companies, books and films they associate with.

“You as a parent must form the habit of talking to your child on issues about drug use and drug abuse before someone else in the society lead him or her in the wrong path.

“Be role model to them and educate them on the dangers of drug abuse and how fast it can tarnish and mar their great future,” he said.

Earlier, Mrs Bilkisu Danmallam, the Chairperson of POWA Enugu State Chapter, said that POWA had been in the forefront of empowering police wives by instituting routine training for them on cake, confectionery, bread, soap/detergent making as well as make-up and decoration designs.

Danmallam noted that POWA was already setting up a modern POWA Secretariat and Multi-Purpose Skill Acquisition Centres in Enugu to ensure that no woman in the barrack is idle “but have something to support her home”.

“POWA will carry the message of `Say No to Drug Abuse and Cultism’ to all nook and cranny of the state especially to our barracks so that the police will have well refined and exceptionally mannered children,” she assured.

Responding, one of the beneficiaries of the POWA empowerment, Mrs Franca Nwachukwu, thanked the wives of the Inspector-General of Police and commissioner of police for ensuring that they are resourceful financially.

Highlights of the event were dramas against drug abuse and cultism by Ogui Police Division; songs against drug abuse and cultism as well as a guard of honour mounted by Police Children School, Enugu.

The wife of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the South-East, Mrs Chioma Ntomchukwu, also graced the event.